PERTH – Caballus can vault into The Everest conversation if he wins the A$5 million (S$4.52 million) The Quokka (1,200m) at Ascot on April 18.

The Bjorn Baker-trained five-year-old landed his maiden Group 1 success in the Newmarket Handicap (1,200m) at Flemington on March 7 last start after three Group 3 triumphs previously.

Owned by the Darby Racing syndications, Caballus will contest the Western Australia feature, which will act as a stepping stone for loftier goals ahead.

“If Caballus wins The Quokka on the back of the Newmarket Handicap, then I would think (Group 1) The Everest (1,200m) slot holders will come looking,” said Scott Darby.

“There is also the (Group 3) Sydney Stakes (1,200m) on Everest Day if he doesn’t get an Everest start.

“We have Caballus and Overpass who we hope will be racing on Everest Day.

“Overpass has to be first-up either in The Everest or the Sydney Stakes but Caballus will probably have a couple of runs in the lead-up races where we can see him against some of the best sprinters.”

Caballus is finally realising his potential this season, which saw him winning the Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1,200m) win last December when he ran a flying 1min 7.84sec for the Doomben 1,200m event.

The son of I Am Invincible then resumed in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1,200m) at Royal Randwick on Feb 14 and ran a blinder when second to the outstanding Joliestar, before his most recent brilliant front-running effort in the Newmarket Handicap.

“RAM Racing (Quokka slot holder) was chasing Overpass for The Quokka late last year,” said Darby.

“But last year, Overpass ran in the (Group 1) TJ Smith Stakes (1,200m) and went to The Quokka and wasn’t quite at his best as he is not as good on a short turnaround between races.

“So, the owners of Overpass had a vote either to go to the TJ Sm...